Cannery Row Gets The Tourists, Tourists Get Cannery Row

It has looked busier than normal at nights on the ‘Row. Downtown P.G. is it’s normal ghost town.

An unusually busy Wednesday night in Monterey, and it’s all because of the AT&T Pro-Am. Several Central Coast businesses say the Pro-Am has brought much needed relief, but others say so far, the tournament hasn’t had much of an impact yet.

“Business on Cannery Row has improved tremendously. There’s a lot of foot traffic and people from all over are coming into town,” says Bakery Owner Deborah Hannas.

Cannery Row Gets The Tourists, Tourists Get Cannery Row

City Hall In Love With Tourists, Leaves Residents Behind

Trolley Riders

Bring more tourists or fund public services for the Snack Of Lanterns? What side is your bought councilperson on?

Pacific Grove denizens can hope to see trolley cars plying a route from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, along the coast to Asilomar, looping back through downtown Pacific Grove and down Central Avenue to the Aquarium.

The cost for the summer is expected to be $60,000, of which a portion will be for marketing. The City of Pacifc Grove is being asked to contribute $20,000 and Asilomar is interested in $20,000 of the partnership as well.

City Hall In Love With Tourists, Leaves Residents Behind

Survey Says There’s Nothing In P.G.For Tourists To Do

(Obvious)

A perception that “there is nothing more to see or do” limits repeat tourism to Monterey County, said a survey of 9,000 people compiled for the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Those surveyed cited a lack of activities, more than the weak economy, for limiting their visits. The survey was compiled by Ohio-based IMPACTS Research.

More than 40 percent of those who visited the county hadn’t returned within two years, the survey found.

The survey found the aquarium is by far the biggest draw for tourists, and that people generally don’t differentiate one city or community from another, except for Carmel, Pebble Beach and Big Sur.

Took an Ohio research firm to figure out that people don’t visit for everyday life, they visit for events like Laguna Seca or the Crosby. Shopping for ‘art’ or dining on $22 plates of noodles is not an attraction.

Survey Says There’s Nothing In P.G.For Tourists To Do

Giving It Up For Tourists – Legalizing Short Stays In Residential Areas

What’s a better neighbor – Canterbury Woods owned houses or houses rented out in party packs?

The program would levy transient occupancy taxes on residential rentals such as those imposed on hotels and other lodging establishments in Pacific Grove.

City Manager Tom Frutchey said, “Regulating and taxing vacation rentals should prove to be a win-win opportunity for owners of vacant properties and the city as we strive to protect neighborhoods, develop our local economy and fund basic services.”

Giving It Up For Tourists – Legalizing Short Stays In Residential Areas

Crosby 2010, Less Is More

Ollie says 48 fewer golfers is a positive step?

Welcome To The Crosby

The PGA Tour and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation announced that the tour’s Policy Board today approved the reduction of the professional field for the 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am from 180 to 156 players. The amateur field consequently will be reduced by the same number.

“This is a positive step in our continual quest to improve the event,” states Ollie Nutt, president and CEO of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. “With the return of Monterey Peninsula Country Club to the rotation and the celebration of AT&T’s 25th year as title sponsor, this will further strengthen the experience for contestants and spectators alike.”

Crosby 2010, Less Is More

Moammar Shocked That Tourists Don’t Buy $22 Noodles

Shocked! Just Shocked!!
Also continues to slam the Farmers Market. Can’t let a day go by without dissing something that benefits the residents.

Ammar said the restaurants in Pacific Grove that are doing the best right now are moderately priced, family places such Holly’s Lighthouse Cafe or Vivolo’s Chowder House, for example.

“I actually heard some tourists talking one day and they said: ‘Instead of going to (higher-end) Fandango, let’s grab some sandwiches at the farmers market,'” he said. “I’ve seen tourists open their trunks to eat out of their coolers.”

Moammar Shocked That Tourists Don’t Buy $22 Noodles

Pimping The Town To US Open Golf Fans

Welcome To The Crosby

A marketing plan is needed for Pacific Grove’s golf course to build up attendance and prepare for next summer’s U.S. Open tournament at Pebble Beach, the City Council agreed Wednesday.

Mayor pro tem Bill Kampe had previously proposed that the council appoint a five-member ad hoc committee for the task.

But newly appointed Councilman Robert Huitt suggested the job might better be handled by a professional marketer using city resources, including the Recreation Commission, the three golf clubs affiliated with the municipal course, tourist-oriented business groups and economic development groups.

Barely on the job and Huitt is spending like a sailor on shore leave.

Pimping The Town To US Open Golf Fans

Tax The Tourists? Moe Say Don’t Do It, Everything Will Be Fine!

Moe knows what’s REALLY good for P.G.

Baghdad Moe

In addition, he will ask the council to consider an emergency resolution that would allow new or increased taxes to be put on the Nov. 3 ballot. Those include raising the hotel room or transient occupancy tax increase from 10 to 12 percent, increasing the business license tax by deleting an annual tax limit, imposing a new 1.5 percent real estate transfer tax, and a parcel tax to fund the Pacific Grove Public Library.

The room and business license tax proposals are fighting words to Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce President Moe Ammar.

“We are opposed to this all the way,” he said. “This one, we’re going to fight. The city has to live within its means.”

Tax The Tourists? Moe Say Don’t Do It, Everything Will Be Fine!

Trip Advisor Hotel/Motel Reviews, Summer 2008

(Trip Advisor)

People let loose with comments –

The Clement Monterey
Breakfast at C overpriced but very good. Lots of flies in eating area and staff a little slow. Great location.

The Intercontinental has used these plasticized mattress covers – I guess in case you have an accident!? Yuck.

Monterey Bay Inn
The only noise through the night was the Sea Lions honking down the beach, and I’m not going to complain about that.

the flattest pillows I have ever seen.

The manager on duty was unprofessional, as well as argumentative and patronizing

Bed did not seem clean. Smelled like other people. Ew.

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
Every bit of noise was audible in the room, from the squawking seagull to the bass of a car. Though we could not hear our next door neighbors you can hear the folks upstairs. I was able to hear someone pee

Fatal flaw is the beds. Like plywood with a thin foam cover.

To reach the heart of Cannery Row, you have to walk by several “scenic” vacant lots, boarded up buildings and cyclone fencing.

Did I mention the service is super polite, even tho the waiter’s tie dangled in the main course and the dessert.

Sunset Inn
Regarding the room, I felt a bit like I was staying in a basement because of the pretty small windows in the room.

I didn’t snore but the guy in the room next to ours did. The walls are extremely thin.

It was the same price as other very dirty properties.

A continental breakfast was offered but the coffee served was so foul it could strip paint.

Asilomar Conference Grounds
Stuff growing in corners of shower.

staff liked to start cleaning rooms before 8am. It’s either sleep with the vacuum cleaner running, or get up.

Rosedale Inn Executive Suite
opening the windows took care of the smell.

Deer Haven Inn & Suites
I also defrosted the refrigerator while I was there so the door would shut

stay away from the back building with the two bedroom suites, very scary!!!

The room smelled clean but some of the items in the room did not. Those items are the bath tub, door hinges and the kitchen.

The room was like a section 8 apartment.

Lover’s Point Inn
pre-packed pastry where the list of chemical ingredients barely fits on the wrapper.

good hotel to film a cheap B horror film at.

We wondered if it was haunted the motel was so empty.

Butterfly Grove Inn
but $190 for a room we didn’t want and in the end they gave to someone else?

Holiday Inn Express Monterey – Cannery Row
We were woken up at 4am by a naked man talking on his phone outside our room (yes I did say naked!!) When I called reception they just came to the courtyard and asked the guy to ‘keep it down’

Sadly the courtyard set up means that people stand outside their doors smoking along the footways overlooking the courtyard

Best Western Victorian Inn
When we got to our room and unpacked my wife heard a noise coming from the BR.We looked at the tub and the drain started to fill the tub with someone else s soapy, dirty water…yechh.

Elevators smelled strange (possible pet urine?)

It was possible to hear whether the person in the bathroom above us was going #1 or #2 in the middle of the night

The Borg’s Ocean Front Motel
Right now my back feels like I slept on uneven rocks. Taking a pain pill and going to see the chiropractor tomorrow.

we were not told there would be a triathalon taking place on the street in front of the motel (it blocked our view and megaphones were making very loud announcements starting at 5:30 in the morning) at the time we made our reservation. What’s with that?

Sea Breeze Lodge
the guy had to light the gas heat in our room which was really odd and made me paranoid

I noticed the window was unlocked, so I checked all the other ones, which were also unlocked.

The Wilkie’s Inn
“Deceptfully charming on the outside. Nasty on the inside.”

Lighthouse Lodge & Suites
there was a major draft through it and the room itself was strange in terms of decor.

carpet needs to be shampooed-my feet became black when I walked barefoot

The two soaps on the sink area were unwrapped and one had obviously been used. There was a brown stain on a white towel.

view out the balacony was a “grave yard”.

They had no one available to fix the toilet so they sent a plunger over for US to do it ourselves.

sweaty-smelling pillows,

Best Western Monarch Resort:
looks and feels like a college apartment complex.

Trip Advisor Hotel/Motel Reviews, Summer 2008

Bad Economy Hitting Tourist Business

Business owners said they are seeing a definite shift in buyer mentality.

Don Martine, owner of the Martine Inn, said reservations have been erratic and he anticipates that business will be down 5 to 7 percent from where it was last year.

Monterey Bay Aquarium officials said they aren’t sure the exact cause of the attendance drop, either the poor economy or a new California Academy of Science opening in San Francisco.

Good time to let some dieing businesses go.

F-Minus
Potato Cones Fminus 081023

Bad Economy Hitting Tourist Business